Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-06-16
PAuPEs rMmIeRArroK.



with SIR ha0mel West.
WASHINGTON, June 10.--Secretary Bayard
to-day makes public the recent corfespon-
dence between the department OF sia'e and
Sir Lionel West, the British minister, on
the subject OF assisted emigration, Under
date of April 18th, 1887, Minister West In
qnirea whether, under existing laws, Irish
emiRrants sent out at the public cost and
who have friends In the United States able
to help and support them will beallowed to
land.
The reply of Secretary Baysrd is dated
May 7th 1887. After acknowledging the re-
ceipt OF Minister Vests communication the
secretary says:
"By section OF an act Of Congress, an
proved August Sd 1885,, to regulate fmmiRra-
ton to the United States, 1t Is provided that
the officers charged with the duty OF super
yising such immigration shall examine Into
the condition OF persons arriving In the
ports of the United States, and that, II on
such examination there shall be found any
person unable to take care OF himself or
herself, without becoming public charge,
they, (the officers) shall report the same In
writing TO the collector Of such port, and
such persons shall not be permitted to land.
80 far as the permission to land is con-
cerned the provisions Of this act are clear
and explicit. The officers charged with
animation, and upon the result of that ex-
animation 10 each case depends the decision
OF the question whether the person seeking
entrance into the United States should be
permitted TO land. It ia, therefore, impos-
sible to give any general assurance that
persons belonging to a particular class will
not be obnoxious to the provisions Of the
law. The only test there Is provided is the
ability OF the Intended emigrant sto tnke
care Of himself or herself, without becom-
ing a public charge; and this test is to be
applied impartially to all persons OF what.
ever nationality. Ht
81 am, however, constrained to notice
that, aside from the enforcement OF the act
Of 1882 your inquiry suggests another ques-
tton which has heretofore been discussed
between the government Of the United Statee
and that OF dreat Britain and upon which
the Views OF this government have been
fully set forth.
"The economic and political conditions
OF the United States have always led the
government to favor immigration. and all
persons seeking new field OF effort and
coming hither with view to the improve
ment of their condition by the free exercise
OF their taculties, have been cordially re-
ceived. The same conditions have caused
other kinds Of immigration to be regarded
as undesirable and led to the adoption by
Congress OF laws to prevent the coming oil
paupers, contract lnborsrs, criminals and
certain other enumerated classes. Such i'm.
migration the economic and political con.
ditlons Of the United States render pecu.
linrly unacceptable.
Sin view OF this policy and these laws
this government could not fail TO look with
disfav0r and concern upon the sending tc
this country, by foreign governmental
agencies and at the public cost, Of persons
not only unlikely to develop qualities ol
thrift and self-support, but sent here be-
cause 1t Is assumed that they have friends
In this country able to help and support
them. Tho mere fact Of poverty hus nrvei
been regarded ms an objection to AN immi
| grant, and large part of those who have
come to our shores have been persons who
relied for support solely upon the exercise
OF thrift and manuel industry, and to sucl
persons It may be said the development o.
| the country has IN large degree been due
But persons whose only escape from imme
diately becoming and remaining charge
upon the community Is the expected, bu
entirely contingent voluntary help ant
| support of friends, are not a desirable ac
ceesion to our population, and their expor
tation hither by foreign government, Ii
order to get rid OF the burden OF their sup
l port, could scarcely be regarded MS {
friendly act or in harmony with existing
laws"
Under date OF May 17th Minister West in
forms Secretary Bayard that her maIesty'i
| government intimates that the intending
emigrants are not paupers, but crofter
whose passages are only partly paid from
| public fund, and desires to know whether
this affects In any way the tenor OF the sec
retary's previous statement.
In reply the secretary says:
For the reasons stated In my note OF tn,
7th inst. the department Is unable to Civ,
any assurance that any particular class o
immigrants will be permitted to land. Tn,
| provisions of the law look to the actua
condition of each person and are impartia
In their operation"